Beaudesert, 2015 Capital of the Subtropical region

BEAUDESERT

2017 LEGENDAIRY CAPITAL OF THE SUBTROPICAL REGION

Beaudesert’s dairy farmers have often dealt with the worst Mother Nature can dish up.

Just this year, farmers had to cope with massive crop losses and fences being washed away in the aftermath of tropical cyclone Debbie.

These extreme climate events have happened before, and will happen again, but inevitability the resilience of farmers and the support of the local community means they are quickly back on their feet.

After the 2017 floods, a coordinated response from industry, community and local council ensured dairy farmers were able to rebound.

It’s always been that way around Beaudesert which takes pride in its community spirit and resilience.

Located less than 100 kilometres south of Brisbane in the Logan River Valley, Beaudesert sources its income largely from rural activities.

Although its name might indicate a dry and inhospitable environment for farming, the town of Beaudesert has an average annual rainfall of about 916mm and generally the weather is mild, except for severe summer storms causing floods.

The town was settled in 1847 and is believed to have been named earlier that decade after Beau Desert Park, a local grazing property, or by a settler who was claiming the area as a sheep station.

Originally Beaudesert was settled for growing cotton and sheep, however timber, cattle and dairying later became the main industries. Farm selection began in the 1860s with the first sale of town housing blocks happening in 1874. By the end of that decade, Beaudesert had its own general store and a post office.

A railway line opened in 1888 and Cobb and Co coaches kept Beaudesert connected to the broader region. As the town developed, a butter factory; the Logan and Albert Co-operative, opened in 1904.

While agriculture provided its economic backbone, Beaudesert also boasted a meatworks, shoe factory and many markets. Beaudesert became famous as the gateway to some fantastic scenery and activities in the Scenic Rim region, while also offering an authentic rural experience in its own right. The region is also becoming well known for its vineyards and boutique accommodation, while dairy farming continues to mean a lot to the region.

The ‘Daughters of Dairy Farmers’ group was launched in 2012 by three local women in response to the struggles dairy farmers were facing. Their aim is to educate and encourage consumers to buy branded milk and to break down stereotypes through the use of social media.

Local dairy farmers educate the community about dairying at the Beaudesert Agricultural Show and local dairy businesses have also embraced tourism, attracting busloads of tourists each week.

As the 2017 LEGENDAIRY Capital of the Subtropical Region, St Mary’s Catholic Primary School will develop a cow art project, showcasing the region’s dairy farmers, community groups and businesses. Corflutes in the shape of cows will be made available to decorate and paint, and the completed cows will be displayed in an open paddock for viewing.